[UK]Livvy reaches e-petition targetA girl born a boy is celebrating after a petition collected 2,000 names thanks to the support of the Worcester News.The e-petition against the use of terms such as “tranny” and “gender bender” in the media has now reached its target after a hard-fought campaign by a Worcester family.

[UK]‘Unashamedly Me’ - from mechanic to authorTWO YEARS after the Leighton Buzzard Observer broke the story about a transsexual mechanic in Leighton who had been shunned by her customers for revealing ‘he’ was actually a ‘she’, Teraina Hird has now become a published author telling of her ordeal in order to help others overcome prejudice.

[Liberia] Liberia's Ellen Johnson Sirleaf defends gay stanceLiberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Laureate, on Friday defended her country's stand on gay rights after controversy following an interview she gave to a British newspaper.

[India]In elections as in life: Eunuch to fight aloneAmong those who are gearing up to contest the civic elections is Anita, a 59-year-old eunuch. Anita had approached the BSP for a ticket but is considering contesting independently because she is yet to hear from the party. Anita wants to contest from south Delhi's Sangam Vihar, which now has a BJP councillor.

[USA]Torture of Gay Immigration Prisoners AllegedAfter criticism from the United Nations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it is "taking action to investigate" reports that 16 gay and transgender detainees have been tortured in U.S. immigration prisons.U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Mendez first questioned the United States about the allegations August 2011. On Feb. 29, Mendez said that he "regrets" that the United States did not respond to his inquiry.

[NY, USA]A Transgender Candidate Is Hoping to Make HistoryZoning. School overcrowding. The design of New York’s transportation system.These are just a few of the subjects that Mel Wymore, a candidate for City Council on the Upper West Side, brought up in an interview before addressing the elephant in the room: that, if elected, he would be the first transgender member of the Council.

[TN, USA]Trailblazing TTPC President breaks new groundDr. Marisa Richmond, the president of Tennessee Transgender Political Coalition, adds another first to her trailblazing career. She has been nominated for an Athena Award, a prestigious award given to Nashville women who excel in the business, political, civics, and nonprofit sectors. She is the first transgender person to be nominated for this award.

[TX, USA]Welcome to Texas, prison rape capital of the U.S.In 2007, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice placed transgender woman Brittney Allen Young into the Powledge men’s prison unit in Palestine.Early in her sentence, Young’s cellmate, Charles, began overpowering and raping her, according to a letter Young wrote to Dallas Voice recently.

[TX, USA]Black Transmen Advocacy Conference to make history in DallasFor far too long, black transgender men have dealt with limited visibility within the LGBT community.Noticing a real need for a space where black transmen could come together, feel empowered and get much-needed services, Carter Brown founded Black Transmen Inc., or BTMI, in 2011.

[TX, USA]Transgendered woman, dealership settle lawsuitAn Odessa woman is settling a discrimination lawsuit with Freedom Buick GMC the week before it was set to go to trial in federal court. But it’s not a typical gender discrimination lawsuit in West Texas.Jazlynne Pacheco, formerly Alex, began taking hormones in June 2009 to physically change her gender from male to female, but claimed in a lawsuit that it ultimately led to her firing.

[Mexico]Mexican Women Human Rights Defenders Call for Full Investigation of Murder of Transgender ActivistThe Mexican Women Human Rights Defenders Network is made up of women activists from throughout the country and I am proud to be among its members. The Network coordinates rapid responses to attacks on women human rights defenders in the country, carries out studies and works on self-care and mutual protection and support. Unfortunately, we have been overwhelmed lately by the number of attacks and assassinations. Our hearts go out to the loved ones of Agnes and the other 16 defenders killed. Our community is saddened and lessened by their loss.